{"id":23561,"date":"2021-10-19T12:50:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T16:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23561"},"modified":"2021-10-20T11:52:55","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T15:52:55","slug":"sinn-fein-accuses-the-government-of-failing-to-invest-in-healthcare-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23561","title":{"rendered":"Sinn F\u00e9in Accuses The Government Of Failing To Invest In Healthcare Service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin said close to 938 beds are to be \u2018delivered\u2019 by the end of the year (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Sinn F\u00e9in leader has accused the Government of failing to invest in the healthcare service by not increasing the number of hospital inpatient beds this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary Lou McDonald said the lack of capacity in the country\u2019s hospitals has left the healthcare service \u201cvulnerable\u201d to a rise in Covid-19 cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald said that despite the ongoing health crisis, the Government did not budget for a single additional inpatient bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThankfully, our population is largely vaccinated and this should allow us to proceed safely back to normal, but our healthcare capacity leaves us vulnerable,\u201d the Sinn F\u00e9in leader said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe crisis that we face now is a hospital bed and capacity crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cScience has done its bit, medical professionals have done more than their bit, but the Government has failed to step up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHospitals across the State are seeing record levels of overcrowding. Emergency departments are overflowing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said that Tuesday\u2019s trolley count stands at 416, with almost one million people on waiting lists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The D\u00e1il was told that almost a quarter of a million of those are waiting for more than 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYet, in the face of this crisis, and increasing Covid numbers, the response of the Government in the budget was not one single additional inpatient bed,\u201d Ms McDonald added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want the Taoiseach to change direction immediately. I am calling on him to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want him to provide the investment needed, to increase the number of beds in our hospitals, to relieve the overcrowding and to lift the intense, unbearable pressure on front-line staff, who are now beyond breaking point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin said that close to 938 beds are to be \u201cdelivered\u201d by the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that over 900 beds have been budgeted for, including the staffing needed for the beds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fianna F\u00e1il leader said it is the largest ever bed increase in one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLikewise, in terms of ICU [intensive care unit], again, there has been a very substantial 25 per cent increase over the last two years in ICU beds. It is close to 300 now and it will get to 321 by the end of this year, or, at the latest, very early next year,\u201d Mr Martin added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese are very substantial increases in both ICU and in terms of bed capacity itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that people in all age groups are getting infected and that the plan to reopen the rest of society is being done in a cautious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald said that while provision has been made for 19 new ICU beds, that was a \u201cdrop in the ocean\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin rejected the accusation, adding: \u201cIf you know anything at all about ICU beds, it is not about the beds themselves but the entire staffing team that goes behind them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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